Telegraphic relay



(No Model.)

G. WESTINGHOUSE, Jr.

TELEGRAPHIG RELAY.

1P tnted Nov. 16, 1886.

miizwses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE WVESTINGHOUSE, JR, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TELEGRAPHIC REL'AY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,725, dated November16, 1886.

Application filed August 30, 1886. Serial No. 212,178. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEono-E \VEsTINer- HOUSE, J r.,residing atPittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, acitizen ot' the United States, have invented or discovered certain newand useful Improvements in Telegraphic Relays, of which improvements theiollowing is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification,Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved relay. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same, the cap or cover being removed. Fig. 3 is asectional View of a detached-portion of the make-and breakmechanis'm,illustraiiveoi' the operation of certain parts; and Fig. atis a top plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the cap or cover beingremoved.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in electrical relays; and,in general terms, it consists of certain combinations, with the magnetand armature, ol'a rod or stem operated by movements of the armature,and springs pressed into end contact by the rod. such springs operatingboth as a stop to limit movement of the armature and as a local-circuitmake-and-break,as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, A represents a base-plate, by preference of cast metal,having therein holes a,which receive tightly the ends of coremagnets BB, and thereby support,or assistin supporting, the magnets and theirhelices B B, as well as the mechanism carried thereon. The position ofthe magnets and their helices is by preference vertical. The lower endsof the magnets protrude from the under face of the plate A, and,whenmagnetizedmttract the end-pivoted armature b. This armature movesvertically, being raised by attraction of the magnets and lowered bygravity. It is guided in its movements by screw 1), which also affordsan adjustable stop to arrest back movement of the armature. A cap, -D,incloscs the operative parts beneath the bedplate, such cap beingattached byscrews d, and is thereby readily removable: The armature isadjusted by its weight for a given battery power, though it may be usedwith good results with a variable battery, suiiicient in strength at itsminimum to raise the armature through the magnets.

Line or circuit connection is made with the helices B by binding-posts DD, electrical connection being made from the posts through the helicesin the usual way.

A heel-bar, 13", connects the two magnets at their upper end and uponthis bar is secured a block, 0, by screws 0, such block carrying a head,0, of suitable electric insulating ma terial, as hard rubber. Ascrew-cap, C", incloses the upper part of thehead,within which is made achambered recess, 0, with a central hole, 6, therein, which opens to apassage, 0, made vertically through the block (land continued therefromthrough connecting-tube F and base A. Thebottom of recess c is bypreference beveled or countersunk at or around the central opening, andtwo or more metal springs, z, are fastened by screws t" at or near therim of the recess,on opposite sides. Thei'ree ends of these springsincline or converge downward to the central opening, 6, terminating inclose proximity over or in such opening. In normal position the springsdo not make electrical contact, and circuit connected to them, as at nFi 2 will be 0361]. 7 h 7 In order to make contact or close circuit, arod, B, is passed from the armature on which it rests upward throughtube F and block 0, terminating in a flattened head, 1, within theopening 6. Upward lift of the armature raises the rod, thereby pressingthe head r upon the points of springs t and closing electricalconnection between them by a sliding contact. Continuation of upwardlift on the rod causes the ends of springs t' to abut against eachother, as in Fig. 8. A stop is thus effected, preventing further upwardmovement of the armature. This step is so adjusted by the length. andposition of the springs as to prevent contact between the armature andthe magnets.

It will be observed that the ends of springs 13 have an appreciableextent of sliding movement upon the head r, between first contacttherewith and the step made by their abutting ends. This sliding contactis made in the most favorable manner for securing good electricalconnection, both on accountof its contdnuation and also on account ofthe scraping action of the spring-points upon the head, tending topreserve bright metallic contact surfaces. Both springs bearing upon thehead may make electrical connection therethrough; also, electricalconnection may be made be tween them directly when their ends arebrought in contact, as in Fig. 3. The operation of the springs and rodin making this connection is similar to a toggle-joint, the ends of thespring being pressed together hard, thereby giving good electricalconnec tion. A double opportunity is thus afforded for making circuitthrough the springs, and these, in addition to the advantages of slidingcontact, afford practically complete assurance of makingcircuit-connection without risk of failure from defective metalliccontacts.

If it is desirable to control more .than one circuit by the relay,additional springs may be employed, substantially like the springs 17,for example, as illustrated in Fig. 4., where two separate springs it,electrically insulated from each other, are secured on one side, and asingle spring on the other side. In this case the single spring forms acommon return-connection for circuits connected to the other two.Provision may thus be made for making and V breaking any desired numberof circuits.

Also, ifdcsired, suitable electrical connection may be made by acircuit-line with rod R, such circuit being made or completed by contactof head r with one or more of the springs i, and such useful applicationof the rod for circuitconnection I consider as coming within myinvention.

My improved relay is designed more par ticularly for use insignal-circuits for railwayservice. It is an important consideration insuch service that the relay should be simple in construction, certain inoperation, and should not require attention for making ad justments, &c.These and similar requirements are fully met by the relay shown anddescribed herein.

The certainty of gravity as a motive power for withdrawing the armatureis employed,instead of the unreliable action of springs. Sliding contactis afforded for making circuitconnection, in addition to mere abuttingcontact, and this sliding contact is continued or in operation anappreciable time before the stop is reached. These and other features ofconstruction,hereinbefore described, make this relay peculiarly adaptedto the uses mentioned. I do not wish, however, to limitmyinvention tosuch uses, but include therein all to which a relay of this charactermay be applied.

I claim herein as my invention" 1. In a relay, the combination ofamovable armature, a rod carried on and movable with the armature, andtwo or more electricallyinsulated springs for making and breakingcircuit located transversely to the line of movement of said rod,electric connection being made between the springs by directend-pressure of the rod thereon, substantially as set forth.

2. Two or more electrically-insulated springs having their free endsadjacent and movable into and out of end-abutting contact, incombinationwith a magnet, an armature, and a rod carried 011 thearmature and movable thereby against the ends of the springs to pressthem into contact, substantially as described, whereby electric circuitis made between the springs by sliding contact of their ends upon therod, and movement of the armature toward the magnet is stopped by theabutting springs.

3. The recessed head 0, in combination with downwardly-convergingspringelectrodesi 2', in any desired number, rod R, and electricallycontrolled armature b, substantially as set forth.

4. Two or more converging springs, 1', having their free ends normallyopen but movable into abutting contact by pressure thereon, incombination with rod R, end-pivoted armature Z), and anelectrically-excited magnet for moving the armature, such movement beingstopped by abutting contact of the springs by pressure of the rodthereon, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination ofan electricallyexcited magnet, a vertically-movablearmature lifted by magnetic attraction and withdrawn by gravity, a rodcarried on and movable with the armature, and two or moreelectricallyinsulated springs converging downward over the rod, suchsprings being normally open and movable under pressure of the rodthereon into an abutting contact, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE, JR.

Witnesses:

R. H. WHITTLEsEY, J. Snowman BELL.

